59 Second Test Can Tell if You’re Sleep Deprived

Posted April 25, 2014

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sleep deprivation is a public health epidemic. Approximately 50-70 million American adults have sleep or wakefulness disorder which can lead to a number of issues including lack of concentration, forgetfulness, increased risk of diabetes and heart disease and even early death.

Many of us aren’t getting the sleep we need. When you’re sleep-deprived, you might experience what experts call “micro-sleeps,” quick blackouts that prevent you from seeing things. But how can you tell?

A new YouTube video provides an easy way to see if you’re at risk. Watch the animated clip below and see if you notice certain things — like a building disappearing or a school bus changing color.

If you don’t catch those changes, you’re not catching enough Z’s, according to Richard Wiseman, a professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K. Wiseman designed the test for people to understand if they were getting enough sleep per night. The video is part of Wiseman’s “In 59 seconds” YouTube series.